Director, Sport and Gambling in Manchester

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted virtually by Ben Dean, Director Sport and Gambling. The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team, wider directorate, and the department. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about the application, interview, and assessment process. Please register your interest by filling out this form and you will be sent an invitation. This will take place virtually, via Google Meets. Please note that the session will not be recorded.

As Director Sport & Gambling within DCMS, you will support an agenda at the heart of the nation. From the grassroots pitches that support public health to the global stage of elite performance and the complexity of the gambling industry balancing commercial interests, consumer choice, and protection from harms. This high profile, fast-paced role has a number of key areas of focus:

• Grassroots sport - driving a systemic shift in national health and activity levels, including through the DCMS Facilities Fund and working with Sport England, sport bodies, and other departments.
• Elite Sport - supporting a thriving and growing elite sport sector, including supporting our Olympic and Paralympic sports through UK Sport, and working with sport National Governing Bodies and key partners to drive financial stability, growth, governance, sports safety, and anti-doping.
• Football Regulation - following the legal establishment of the Independent Football Regulator, you will support its transition to becoming fully operational, securing the long-term integrity and sustainability of the English game.
• Gambling - navigating the complexities and regulatory landscape of the gambling sector and maintaining the right balance between allowing people to gamble and protecting those vulnerable from gambling harms.
• National Lottery - overseeing work on the implementation of the 4th National Lottery licence and wider lottery work, ensuring the multi-billion pound success and social impact of the National Lottery.

As Director, you will lead a high-performing, multi-disciplinary directorate of approximately 80 professionals dedicated to delivering impact across the sport and gambling landscapes. The team is a vibrant mix of subject matter experts, specialist analysts, and policy generalists who thrive in a fast-paced environment. The directorate is structured across three Deputy Director portfolios, fostering a resilient, outcomes-focused, and unified culture. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace that champions diversity and empowers every team member to contribute to our national mission. While we operate as a cohesive national unit, our geographic footprint is evolving. We are actively growing our Manchester hub, which currently hosts approximately 30% of the directorate, alongside our London headquarters (60%) and other regional offices across England (10%). A defining feature of this role is the senior sponsorship and strategic oversight of seven prominent Arms Length Bodies (ALBs). You will work closely with these partners to ensure robust governance and strategic alignment.

The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience:

• Leadership: track record of outstanding leadership with the ability to guide and inspire high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams while fostering a resilient, outcomes-focused, and unified culture. Demonstrable commitment to inclusive leadership, with the capability to champion diversity and empower your team.
• Seeing the Big Picture: demonstrable success in aligning complex organisational strategies with broader national or sectoral objectives. Evidence of navigating intricate stakeholder landscapes, successfully balancing commercial vitality with social responsibility and public protection within a fast-paced and sensitive socio-political environment.
• Working Together: expert capability in building long-term networks with senior stakeholders and partner organisations. You will use sophisticated soft power and diplomatic influence to resolve high-stakes disagreements and maintain strategic momentum among parties with deeply competing interests.
• Making Effective Decisions: significant experience in providing concise, strategically sound, and evidence-based advice to Board-level executives, political leaders, or equivalent senior decision-makers. You must demonstrate shrewd political judgement, with the ability to anticipate how decisions will land within the wider political sphere of influence and across high-risk sectors.
• Communicating and influencing: excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex regulatory, commercial, or ethical landscapes into clear, compelling narratives. You will be a sophisticated advocate, articulating a vision and building consensus to drive change and win hearts and minds.

Desirable Skills: Knowledge of the sport and/or gambling policy landscape, including an understanding of the regulatory requirements of the National Lottery or elite sports.